Philipp Grubauer

Philipp Grubauer (born 25 November 1991) is a German professional ice hockey goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Philipp Grubauer
Grubauer with the Hershey Bears in 2015
Born (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991
Rosenheim, Germany
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Washington Capitals
National team  Germany
NHL Draft 112th overall, 2010
Washington Capitals
Playing career 2011–present

He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round, 112th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Grubauer has played with the German national team in several international tournaments, including the 2008 U18 World Championships and the 2009 World Junior Championships. Grubauer won the Memorial Cup with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Windsor Spitfires in 2010. Grubauer won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Capitals in 2018.

In April 2015, while playing for the Capitals, Grubauer became the first German-born goaltender to start and win a Stanley Cup playoff game.

Playing career

Early career

Grubauer began his career in Germany, playing for the junior (U18) team of his hometown Starbulls Rosenheim beginning in 2006 at the age of 15. The following season, 2007–08, Grubauer played 23 games for the Starbulls U18 team, as well as five games with the senior club. Following the 2007–08 season, Grubauer moved to North America to play with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being selected 25th overall in the 2008 CHL Import Draft.[1]

Grubauer with the Windsor Spitfires.

Grubauer served as the Bulls' back-up goaltender in the 2008–09, but became the team's starter in 2009–10. That season, he played in 31 games for the Bulls before being traded in January 2010 to the Windsor Spitfires in a seven-player deal.[2] The Spitfires won the Memorial Cup for the second consecutive year that May, and Grubauer led all goaltenders in the tournament with a .930 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average (GAA).

On 26 June 2010, Grubauer was selected in the fourth round, 112th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[3]

Just a few days after the NHL Draft, Grubauer, along with Windsor's first-round 2010 CHL Import Draft pick, was traded to the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for Nick Czinder, A. J. Jarosz, Kingston's first-round pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft and Kingston's second- and seventh-round (conditional) picks in the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.[4]

Grubauer signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on 4 October 2010, as his season with the Frontenacs began.[5]

Grubauer played 38 games for the Frontenacs before falling ill with mononucleosis in February. He returned to Germany to recuperate and missed the rest of the season, his final age-eligible season in the OHL.[6]

Washington Capitals

Grubauer returned to the ice for the first time since his bout with mononucleosis at the Capitals' 2011–12 season development camp. He reported that he had lost 20 pounds while ill.[7] Following training camp in September, Grubauer was eventually assigned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, a minor league affiliate of the Capitals.[8] Grubauer was recalled to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Hershey Bears on 12 October 2011,[9] but did not play any games and returned to the Stingrays on 23 October.[10] On 8 November 2011, the ECHL announced that Grubauer had been named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of 31 October to 6 November. Grubauer was 3–0–0 with one shutout, a 1.00 GAA and a .960 save percentage during that span.[11] Grubauer was named the ECHL's Goaltender of the Month for November. In eight games with the Stingrays in November, he went 6–1–1 with one shutout, a 1.73 GAA and a .935 save percentage.[12] Grubauer was named ECHL Rookie of the Month in January and at the conclusion of the season, was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team for 2011–12.[13]

Grubauer during his tenure with the Capitals in 2016.

In the 2012–13 season, the Washington Capitals' ECHL affiliation became the Reading Royals, and Grubauer split the season between Reading and Hershey, moving up to Hershey when the NHL ended their labour lockout and when goaltender Braden Holtby was promoted to Washington full-time for the 2012–13 season. Grubauer made his NHL debut in relief of Braden Holtby in a 4–1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on 27 February 2013, stopping all 14 shots faced in just over 25 minutes of play.[14] Grubauer then made his first NHL start on 9 March 2013, in a 5–2 loss to the New York Islanders. He faced 45 shots in the game, stopping 40.[15]

On 6 July 2017, the Capitals re-signed Grubauer to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.[16] During the 2017–18 season, Grubauer recorded a career-high 15 wins in 28 starts. Grubauer was the Capitals' starter to begin the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs after a strong (7–3–0) record in 10 of the final 16 games in the Capitals' regular season.[17] Grubauer made 23 saves in a 4–3 overtime loss in Game One against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[18] However, Holtby permanently took over the goaltending duties from Grubauer after replacing him during Game 2 of the series.[19] The Capitals ended up winning the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.[20]

Colorado Avalanche

On 22 June 2018, Grubauer, alongside Brooks Orpik was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2018 2nd-round pick during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[21] The following day, the Avalanche re-signed Grubauer to a three-year, $10 million contract extension.[22]

He recorded an 18–9–5 record during the regular season, but a second-half surge led Grubauer to be named Colorado's starting goaltender for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. He helped lead the Avalanche to a first-round upset over the first-place Calgary Flames, but lost in Round 2 to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. Grubauer recorded a 7–5 record with a 2.30 goals against average during the playoffs.

During the 2019 offseason, goaltender Semyon Varlamov signed a free-agent deal with the New York Islanders, cementing Grubauer's place as Colorado's starter.

International play

Grubauer has appeared in several international competitions, representing Germany. He participated in the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where Germany placed ninth in the tournament; Grubauer was named to the tournament's All-Star team after posting a .909 save percentage and 3.49 GAA.[23]

Three months following the 2008 U-17 Hockey Challenge, Grubauer, sharing goaltending duties with Felix Brückmann, played in the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships, held in Kazan, Russia. Germany placed fifth in the tournament, and Grubauer was selected as Germany's Player of the Game in Germany's 9–2 loss to Canada on the first day of round robin play.[24]

At the age of 17, Grubauer participated in the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario. However, Germany won just one game in the tournament, and following a ninth-place finish, were relegated to Division I for the 2010 World Junior Championships.

Grubauer gained attention while competing for Germany in Division I of the 2010 World Junior Championships in Megève and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France. Germany placed first in their group, winning all five of their games in order to put them back in the Top Division for the 2011 World Junior Championships. Germany's success was largely due to the play of Grubauer, who posted a 0.64 GAA and a .974 save percentage in five games.

Grubauer then participated in the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo and Lewiston, New York, but Germany performed similarly to the 2009 World Junior Championships and finished tenth, sending them back to Division I for 2012. Grubauer recorded losses for all four games he started in the tournament.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2007–08 Starbulls Rosenheim 3.GBun 5——————2.73— ————————
2008–09 Belleville Bulls OHL 177809476203.93.888 10056404.26.902
2009–10 Belleville Bulls OHL 311014517179003.14.913 ————————
2009–10 Windsor Spitfires OHL 19131210114022.37.906 1816210944922.69.909
2010–11 Kingston Frontenacs OHL 3822133223913523.62.903 ————————
2011–12 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 432313525369412.22.918 ————————
2012–13 Reading Royals ECHL 26195115425902.30.912 ————————
2012–13 Hershey Bears AHL 28159216246122.25.919 5233011903.79.901
2012–13 Washington Capitals NHL 201084503.57.915 ————————
2013–14 Hershey Bears AHL 281313216857332.60.916 ————————
2013–14 Washington Capitals NHL 176558833502.38.925 ————————
2014–15 Hershey Bears AHL 4927175291811262.30.921 7243942203.35.901
2014–15 Washington Capitals NHL 110065201.85.920 11060303.00.857
2015–16 Washington Capitals NHL 2289111114302.32.918 ————————
2016–17 Washington Capitals NHL 24136212654332.04.926 10019206.32.778
2017–18 Washington Capitals NHL 351510318657332.35.923 201105804.57.837
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 37189520218932.64.917 12757322812.30.925
2019–20 Colorado Avalanche NHL 361812420589022.63.916 7513851211.87.922
NHL totals 1747952209,351380112.44.920 2313713015322.44.912

International
Year Team Event GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2008 Germany U17 5——————3.49.909
2008 Germany WJC18 4——————4.16.877
2009 Germany WJC 3———1091206.61.838
2010 Germany WJC-D1 5——————0.64.974
2011 Germany WJC 40401761304.44.888
2014 Germany WC 2010118402.03.921
2019 Germany WC 3110147702.86.920
Junior totals 21——————3.87.897
Senior totals 51202651102.49.921

Awards and honours
Award Year
ECHL
Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Week (31 Oct. – 6 Nov.) 2011
Goaltender of the Month (November) 2011
Reebok Hockey Rookie of the Month (January) 2012
All-Rookie Team 2011–12
NHL
Stanley Cup (Washington Capitals) 2018 [25]
International
World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team 2008

References
  1. "2008 CHL Import Draft: Round 1". Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  2. "Spitfires and Bulls complete trade". Open Ice Hockey. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  3. Vogel, Mike (26 June 2010). "What They're Saying About Philipp Grubauer". Washington Capitals. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  4. "Spits trade Grubauer". Windsor Star. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  5. Applebaum, Lindsay (4 October 2010). "Caps sign Philipp Grubauer to entry-level deal". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. "Grubauer sidelined". Kingston Frontenacs. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  7. Woods, Shemar (14 July 2011). "Prospect Philipp Grubauer could be Washington Capitals' next great hope in goal". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  8. "Stingrays Receive Six from Hershey; Acquire Rights to Higgins". South Carolina Stingrays. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  9. "Grubauer recalled to Hershey". South Carolina Stingrays. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  10. "Grubauer returns to Stingrays". South Carolina Stingrays. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  11. "Grubauer named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week". ECHL. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  12. "Grubauer Named ECHL Goaltender of the Month". South Carolina Stingrays. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  13. "ECHL All-Rookie Team Announced". ECHL. 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  14. "Flyers 4, Capitals 1". Washington Capitals. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  15. "Islanders 5, Capitals 2". Washington Capitals. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
  16. Khurshudyan, Isabelle. "Capitals re-sign goaltender Philipp Grubauer to one-year, $1.5 million deal". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  17. "Capitals' Philipp Grubauer to start Game 1 vs. Blue Jackets". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  18. McNally, Brian. "Blue Jackets defeat Capitals in OT in Game 1". NHL.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  19. McNally, Brian. "Blue Jackets top Capitals in OT again, extend series lead". NHL.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  20. Rosen, Dan. "Capitals win Stanley Cup, defeat Golden Knights in Game 5 of Final". NHL.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  21. Rosen, Dan. "Grubauer, traded to Avalanche by Capitals for draft pick". NHL.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  22. "Grubauer signs three-year contract with Avalanche". NHL.com. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  23. "Team Ontario wins gold medal at 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge; Team West takes bronze". Hockey Canada. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  24. "Best Players Per Game" (PDF). IIHF. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  25. "The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup". New York Times. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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